Hammock litter



Nov. 2, 1929- s. STRAUSS ET AL HAMMOCK LITTER Filed April 9, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet Fi a NOV; 1929- s. STRAUSVS ETAL 1,735,552

HAMMOCK LITTER Filed April 9. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 12 1929.

s. STRAUSS ET AL 1,735,552

HAMMOCK LITTER v Filed April 9. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fl g. 5| I 3 27F 1s m1 is Patented Nov. 12, 1929 umrso STA-res PATENT smerzamn srnauss, or wunzmme, AND snvnnm onnscirfi'rz, or'srnnr'riaaonmemv,

- GERMANY HAMMOCK LITTER Application meaa rnc, 1928, Serial in. 268,557, and in Germany m nure 2,1926.

Hammock litters are known, particularly those in which a canvas carrier is suspended from several points along a pole by means of bands (see German Patent No. 220362) '5 The'object of the present invention is so to arrange the hammock, bar and supporting members that, by appropriate adjustment,

persons sufiering from any kind of injury are able to assume-suitable positions in the hammock according to the nature of their injuries; for instance a recumbent position, a sitting position (especially with a horizontal support for an injured-arm), or a position with a support for the knees.

The new litter possesses at the same time all the advantages of the known hammock litters, and to some extent in a higher degree, inasmuch as its length can be shortened for use in the sitting position,'thereby facilitating conveyance through narrow passages and round corners. A further feature is its very simple manipulation, which enables it to be taken to the patient and adjusted easily and reliably to meet his needs of conveyance. {Further individual advantages will appear ater.

To facilitate its shortening, the pole is telescopic (an arrangement already known in connection with hammocks not designed to be used as litters), in order to adjust it to the varying stature of the users.

The disposition of the pole, the canvas carrier and the suspension means coact to attain the objects of the invention. The canvas may be a quadrangular piece of tent cloth, of suflicient width, however to leave roomowing to the manner of folding-for the accommodation of the whole body of the patient in the sitting position in the trough formed by the canvas, and to provide a support for the back; whilst, for conveyance in the recumbent position, the patient lies in the bottom of the trough. The primary supporting members comprise two laterally extending books, at the headand foot end respectively. Between these, however, there are two other supporting members, one of which is adjustable and the other fixed, for the attachment of two or three carrier straps, and,

in particular, in conjunction with the speci fied shape of the canvas, enablethe latter .to be folded in a suitable manne'rffor the'recume bent or sitting position, orithefpositionwith;- a support for the knees; {A further special feature consists in the arrangement of the supporting members in connection with theshape of the canvas and itsjsus'pension. These supporting members are disposed so asto' project, to a considerable extent, laterally'of the pole, so that the sides of} the canvas car- 60 rier hang down almost vertically, do {not exert any substantial lateral essure on the body, and enable the met 0 of folding,

. hereinafter described, tobef cfarried o ut, I

order to retain their position these support ing members have to be secured to the pole by means which preventthemV-from tilting, and at the same time-enablefree adjustment on thatportion of the pole in which the other portion is adapted tot'eles'cope. In: the simpler embodiments, this telescopic arrangement of the pole may 'bedi's'pensed with, in certain circumstances; which case, one or both of the end supporting members' may be adjustably mounted. 1 j In the accompanying drawings Figures]; to 6 illustrate the invention diagrammatical- 1y, Figure 1 showing a sidegelevation'of the litter folded for transport,*thehammock being wrapped'round the pole, and secured by 30 two straps29, whilst a loose' b'elt 26 serves as a carrying sling. 1;

Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the litter-- in use, with a patient in afsemi-sitting position, the pole 1 being in its collapsed and therefore shortest condition, whilst the canvas of the hammock 16 is slung in such a way as to form a convenient support forjthe arms of the patient, at the proper level for that purpose-an arrangement of special importance in the case of injured arms. 7 Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the litter with a patientin a three 'quarter recum' 1 bent position, with the belt 26 passed loosely through the loops 28 soias t'o, support the knees of the patient in the raised position,the pole being partially extended.

Figure 4 shows a side elevation of the litter .with a corpse or patient 'in' full recumbent mo position, the

pole being extended toits full length; i

- Figure 5 shows the hammock canvas 16 spread out, and indicates the portions which are strengthened by the belts.

F gure 6 is an enlarged-sectional eleyatlon transversely of the pole showmg a supporting o member 6 for slingingfthe hammock 16; F igure 7 is auenlarged'longitudinal section showing afastcning device for preventing the axial displacement of the parts of the pole; and Figure 8 is a plan of a pole with forked handles.

1 The adjustable litter comprises a pole 1,' 7 preferably consisting of two telescoping members, i. e. an outer tubular main portion 3 and an inner tubular auxiliary extensible portion 011 the main portion 3 at and adjacent the end thereof are mounted supporting members 4 and 6, and between the latter is mounted an intermediate supporting member 5. On the auxiliary portion 2 at the outer free end thereof is mounted a supporting member 7. Each of said supporting members consists of a collarhavmg a laterally extending member in the form of a hook projecting on each side of the pole. The members 1, 5 and? arein fixed positions while the member 6 is adjustable to suit the stature and position of the occupant of the litter:

The adjustable construction of the unit 6, i. e.

two bowed members and clamping screws and nuts is shown in Figure 6. At the inner'end of the tube 3 'isodisposed a strengthening collar 8, provided with a latching device comprising (see Figure 7) a lever. 9, pivot pin 10, compression spring 11 and locking pin 12. By engaging any one of a row of holes such as 13, this device prevents the extensible portion 2 of the pole 1"f rom shifting in" the longitudinal direction. The ends 14 and 15 of the pole can be forked in a known manner (see FigureS). The canvas 16, preferably of tent cloth, is provided at its ends with eyes.

or rings 17 and 18 so that it may be suspended from the hooks of the'.laterally extending supporting members 4, 5, and 7, Whilst belts 19 and 20 are attached for the special supporting and folding of the hammock; in 'ad:

dition, there are two diagonal belts 21 and 22 having eyes or rings 23 and 24, which strengthen the hammock very considerably at the main point of application of the load under the seat.

7 9, thus drawing the locking pin 12 clear of The method of using the new litter is as follows: The hammock 16 is spread outon the ground (Figure 5); the patient is laid or seated on it; thepole 1 is lengthened or shortened according to the pose on osition in which thepatient. is to be conveye which is done by depressing the free endfof the lever the hole 13, and freeing the two members 2 and 3, whereupon they can be displaced relatively .to one another in the longitudinaldirection until the locking pin 12 engages another hole'13. The tube 3 is prevented from turning by the fact that the pin 12 is drawn only just clear of the hole 13 and remains as a key in a longitudinal groove 25 machined in the tube 3. The 'eyes17 and 18 are then attached to the hook units 4, 5 and 7 in accordance with the desired position; the loose belt 26 with the eyes 27 is passed under the knee of the patient and through the loops 28,

of the pole are connected,'-anda plurality of e es extending across the other end' of the s ieetconnecting the latter to both end and intermediate supporting members, whereby the sheet may be folded to form arm supports. 2. A hammock litter comprising a carrier pole, laterally extending supporting members fixed to the pole at the ends thereof, laterally extendingsupporting members connected to the pole intermediate its ends,

a flexible supporting sheet, centrally arranged eyes at one end of the sheet connecting the latter to'the supporting members at one end of the pole, and laterally arranged eyes at the same end of the sheet connecting the latter to the intermediate support-:

ing members, whereby the sheet is folded :to form arm supports. i

3. A hammock litter comprising *a carrier pole having a main portion'and an auxiliary extensible portion movable longitudinally thereof, laterallyextending support- I ingmembers fixed at the outer ends of the main and auxiliary portions, laterally extending supporting members fixed intermedrate-the ends of the main-portion, a' flexible supporting sheet, eyes on one end, of the 1atter connecting the sheet to the end supports ofithe main portion and to said intermedi-' ate supports, and eyes on the opposite end of the sheet connecting the latter to the supports on the end of the auxiliary portion.

4. 1A hammock litter. comprising a carrier pole having a main portion and an auxiliary extensible portion movable longituy dinally thereof, laterally extending supporting members fixed at theouter ends of the main and auxiliary portions, laterally. ex-

tending'sup'porting members fixed adjacent the inner end of the main portion, a flexible supporting sheet, eyes on one end of the latter connected to the end supports of the main portion and to said intermediate supcollar adjustable on the outer tu dinal movement,

iguana ports, laterally extending supporting members adjustably mounted on the main portion, transversely extending belts attached to the sheet connected to said intermediate and adjustable supporting members, and eyes on the opposite end of the sheet connecting the latter to the supports on the end of the auxiliary member.

5. A hammock litter comprising a carrier pole consisting of a main outer tube and an inner telescoping tube, collars fixed on the ends of the tubes having laterally extending supporting hooks, a collar fixed on the outer tube intermediate its ends and having laterally extending supportin hooks, a e having laterally extending supporting hooks, means to lock the tubes against relative longitumeans to prevent relatively rotary move ent of the tubes, a flexible supporting shee the latter connecting the sheet to the end supports of the inner tube, eyes secured to the other end of the sheet connecting the latter to the end and intermediate supports on the outer tube, cross-straps fixed on the sheet connected to said intermediate and adjustable supporting hooks, and an adjustable limb supporting strap connected to said adjustable supports. o

*6. In a hammock litter, a carrier pole comprising a main outer tube, an inner telescoping tube having a longitudinal groove therein, a spring-actuated pin mounted in the outer tube extending intosaid groove to prevent relative rotation of the tubes, said 'roove having a plurality of apertures to receive said pinto lock the tubes against relative longitudinal movement, and a lever for operating the pin against the action of the spring. v V

7. In a hammock litter, a carrier pole comprising a main outer tube, an inner telescoping tube having a longitudinal groove therein, a spring-actuated pin mounted in the outer tube extending into said groove to prevent relative rotation of the tubes, said groove having a plurality of apertures to receive said pin to lock the tubes against relative longitudinal movement, a lever for operating the pin against the action of the spring, and a a plurality of laterally extending supporting hooks mounted on the tubes.

In testimony that we claim the foregoingas our invention, we have signed our names this 21st day of March, 1928.

' SIEGFRIED STRAUSS.

L SEVERIN GEnsoHI'jTz.

eyes secured to one end of 

